BILLION DOLLAR SHOT

Chapter 8 – The Fall Before the Rise

Titania Media Room – 10:43 A.M. The press storm hit like a tsunami. Every channel, every feed, every tabloid screamed the same thing:

“ANDRE CORBIN IN DOPING SCANDAL.”

“FROM RAGS TO RICHES TO RECKLESS?”

“THE FALL OF A PRODIGY.”

The footage was looped endlessly: Andre’s shocked face, the screenshots, the accusations. Behind closed doors, executives panicked. Sponsors hit pause. Commentators flipped. The golden boy narrative turned into a witch hunt overnight.

Andre’s Apartment – Same Day He sat in the dark. His phone buzzed nonstop. Calls. Messages. Death threats. Pleas. Doubts.

Even from people who once worshiped him. But one message stood out a voice memo from an unknown number: “You're not the first we’ve buried. But you’ll be the fastest. Walk away, Andre. Or we’ll dig deeper.”

Andre replayed it. Twice. Then deleted it. His face was stone. Meanwhile – His Mother’s House (Encrypted Line) His mother had already moved everything. All contracts. All money. All endorsements. All protected.

“Don’t worry about the noise,” she said. “Let them shout. You stay quiet. You focus.” Andre nodded. “I need to know who set me up.” His mother hesitated. “There’s someone you should talk to.”

Later That Night – Café in a Hidden Madrid Alley Andre met with Nathan. An old friend. The same friend who once told him, “You’re better off mopping floors than chasing balls.” Andre sat across from him. Cold. Silent.

Nathan looked nervous. “I didn’t come to fight,” he said. “I came to confess.” Andre’s eyes narrowed. “Talk.”

“I was paid to pass your old ID documents to a third party. They said they needed it to verify your identity for a documentary. But…”

“But they forged a doping record instead.”

Nathan nodded. “I didn’t know until it was too late. They used me. I tried to back out. But they said if I talked, they’d leak my past.”

Andre stared at him, motionless. “Who’s ‘they’?” Nathan slid a napkin across the table. Written on it, a name: Viktor Lorne. Research Facility – Secret Archive Room

Clive met Andre behind a biometric door. Inside: Clive’s personal evidence board. Photos, documents, data dumps weeks of surveillance.

“Viktor Lorne,” Clive confirmed. “Ex-sponsor for Reznov. Owner of Lorne Capital. Quietly funds clubs, federations, and media groups. The puppeteer.”

Andre studied the wall. He saw pictures of Reznov, Teanna, and… Nathan. “They’re all connected.” Clive nodded.

“But why me?”

“Because you're a variable,” Clive said. “You're not born from their system. You weren’t supposed to rise. And now that you’re here, you scare them.”

Andre looked at the wall, jaw clenched. “I want everything on Viktor.” Clive hesitated. “There’s one more thing.” He handed Andre a security photo Viktor Lorne… shaking hands with Teanna. Two weeks ago.

Andre’s stomach turned. “She was never just an ex.”

“No,” Clive said. “She was the bait.”

Next Morning – Underground Gym Andre trained like a man possessed. Broken wrist taped tight. No cameras. No distractions.

Every move, every shot, every sprint had a purpose. He didn’t just want to return. He wanted vengeance.